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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 877 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Mon Mar 5th, 2007 03:00 pm |
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Hello CH Friends,
Lately, as I have been embracing Catholicism more and more, I have become aware of wrong attitudes toward Catholics among my Protestant brethren. "Was it always this way?" I ask myself. "Did I used to say such things as well?" Well, yes I did. And now I realize, that if I say I love God, whom I cannot see, but do not love my brother, whom I do see, then what kind of Christian love dwells within my heart?
It seems that every week lately, the pastor has some snide remark regarding Catholics or Catholic teaching. I was never so aware of it as I am now. I think I must have shrugged it off. Or else I considered it part and parcel to Evangelical thinking that one must question Catholicism through and through.
Last Sunday, the pastor asked that we pray for two of our member's jobs, who work at a Catholic school. It seems that there is serious talk of the diocese closing this school. These two members really love their jobs since they attest to the fact that they can freely speak about Jesus Christ there. Really? Speak about Jesus Christ among those idolatrous, faithless, unsaved, non-Chrisitian Catholics? (sarcasm there  ) The pastor remarked, "We need to pray that the school stays open. But that is up to the diocese, and you know how they (those Catholics) can be in the diocese!" There was another negative statement made that same day toward Catholics, but at the moment, I don't recall what it was. But in weeks previous, interwoven within the sermon, are anti-Catholic statements.
This past weekend, my husband and I visited a Christian couple, whom we have known for over 25 years. We would consider them to be our closest Christian friends. I was hoping for an opportunity to talk to the wife, my dear friend in the Lord, about my desire to become Catholic. As I was talking with the my friend after dinner, she began talking about a concern she had regarding her daughter. She said that her daughter has known a wonderful Catholic boy since high school. (she attended Catholic h.s.) My friend said that if she could choose for any boy to be her son-in-law, he would be it. Each time he visits her home, he is respectful, gives her a big bear hug, and is a complete gentleman. The only problem is that he is a Catholic. And she does not want her daughter to marry a Catholic. She has made that very plain to her. (Her daughter seems to have a serious interest in this boy) Yet, she went on to say that when her daughter visited this boy in his home, he wanted to show her his stereo system, which was in his bedroom. But rather than have her daughter come into his bedroom, which he considers inappropriate, he disassembled the system, brought it into the living room, and re-assembled it, so her daughter could appreciate its quality. Wow, what a gentleman indeed.
Then she said that his mother wouldn't want her son to marry her daughter because she isn't Catholic. And one of the uncles who decided to "get saved" was disowned by the family. While my friend has a problem with that, she didn't think to examine her own attitude, and that she would likely disown her daughter if she were to marry a Catholic.
Another time during the same evening, my friend insulted Catholics as being no better than nominal Muslims, who aren't serious about their faith. What about all the nominal Protestants out there? Why is it that so many Protestants think that because they are saved/born again, they can insult others whom they don't consider to be saved? Would my friend rather have her daughter marry a mild, average, run-of-the-mill, born again Protestant than a devoted, faithful Catholic?
I knew at that point I could not tell her about my journey toward the Catholic faith. My heart was so saddened by her biases against Catholics. But I have lifted her and her husband up in prayer and will continue to do so.
Let us continue to be witnesses and peacemakers to our Protestant brothers and sisters of Christian love, compassion, kindness, and joy. Joy that only the Catholic Church believes in the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. May it be that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ, many Protestants will embrace the Catholic faith and join the apostolic church, founded on the rock of St. Peter by Jesus Christ.
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 720 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Mon Mar 5th, 2007 07:39 pm |
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Hi Darlene,
I think Catholic bashing has gone on since the days of the Romans. I did it years ago, as did those around me. One thing I notice, as I made my way along my Journey to the RCC, was that everyone I talked to about my Journey was against my becoming a member of the RCC while not one of them spoke against the teachings of the Church. My current feeling is that we now not only have Catholic bashing going on in our society but in addition, we also have a generalized Christian bashing going on as well.
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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mrsbmoo
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 267 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Methodist. RCA, Presbyterian, Holiness, Wesleyan... Catholic as of June ... |
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Posted: Mon Mar 5th, 2007 07:55 pm |
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The scary extreme of this was the pentecostal holiness church I belonged to for 3 years where they taught it was ok to cheat people outside the church because God had commanded the Isrealites to fleece the Egyptians as they left Egypt. I think it comes from thinking you know who is going to Heaven and who isn't so you feel like you don't have to be nice to those who are Hell-bound anyway, a sort of Us/Them mentality I know the logic doesn't really hold up under scrutiny.
I know one reason I left the Evangelical church I attended was that they were so quick to judge things that were culture like enjoying science fiction novels but so very vague on doctrine. Saved didn't have any meat behind it, just fitting into the culture that particular church embraced. Again the Us vs Them mentality. Of course, now I sometimes struggle with the Catholic big tent idea since it emcompasses so many differing opinions.
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Becky
Wife of Michael(called Moo) and stay at home mom to 5 daughters between 7 months and 16
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Erika
Member
| Joined: | Thu Mar 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 4 |
| First Name: | Erika | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptized Lutheran/Generic Christian/RCIA candidate |
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Posted: Fri Mar 16th, 2007 04:54 pm |
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| I know that I did my share of saying anti-Catholic things. What is really difficult is telling my Protestant friends that I am becoming Catholic after I said all those things. I am also worried that they will try to keep me from pursuing my journey to the RCC. Whatever they say won't stop me but it is going to be very difficult to hear. I know that it will come from being misinformed about the RCC. I just hope that I will be able to clear up their misconceptions.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Mar 16th, 2007 05:12 pm |
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Erika wrote: I know that I did my share of saying anti-Catholic things. What is really difficult is telling my Protestant friends that I am becoming Catholic after I said all those things. I am also worried that they will try to keep me from pursuing my journey to the RCC. Whatever they say won't stop me but it is going to be very difficult to hear. I know that it will come from being misinformed about the RCC. I just hope that I will be able to clear up their misconceptions.
If I might make a suggestion, just answer, "I used to believe that, too, but then I learned what Catholics really believe."
Leave it up to them to ask. That way no one will be able to say you are trying to force yourself on them, or that you have been brainwashed. Instead of trying to convince them, just try to pique their interest. Plant the seed. Let the Holy Spirit do the rest. If the ground is fertile, they will realize that your changed beliefs come from an intelligent understanding, rather than an irrational conversion.
Answer their questions to the best of your ability. If you don't know the answer, we'll help, or buy them a book by a convert from their faith, or refer them to one of the zillions of web sites by converts from their background. But never preach or make an effort to convince them of anything. Present information as requested, and let the Truth set them free.
Always remember, Truth is on our side. If someone presents an argument you can't answer, it's because either the argument is irrational (in which case they can't prove it) or because your knowledge is lacking and you need help. No one can make a rational argument to prove the Catholic Church is not the one true Church founded by Christ simply because it is.
Anyone who fairly examines the Catholic Church cannot help but convert, and many who accidentally discover the Catholic Church are dragged in kicking and screaming by the Truth (ask Scott Hahn, Karl Keating, Marcus Grodi, Alex Jones, Steve Ray, and the millions of others who have come to the faith against their will).
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Cindy
Member
| Joined: | Fri Nov 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 41 |
| First Name: | Cindy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic convert |
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Posted: Sat Mar 17th, 2007 08:32 pm |
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cajunrick wrote:
Anyone who fairly examines the Catholic Church cannot help but convert, and many who accidentally discover the Catholic Church are dragged in kicking and screaming by the Truth (ask Scott Hahn, Karl Keating, Marcus Grodi, Alex Jones, Steve Ray, and the millions of others who have come to the faith against their will).
Actually, Karl isn't a convert. He's a cradle Catholic. 
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"Where Peter is, there is the Church" -- St. Ambrose of Milan
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat Mar 17th, 2007 08:44 pm |
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Cindy wrote: Actually, Karl isn't a convert. He's a cradle Catholic.
You're right, of course. I was thinking of Jeff Cavins, the other founder of CHN, but it came out Karl Keating. Sorry about that!
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1715 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Mar 17th, 2007 08:54 pm |
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| Hmmm. Jeff, too, is a cradle Catholic. He left the Church for some years, then returned. He’s the one who coined the word “revert.”
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 12:21 am |
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David W. Emery wrote: Hmmm. Jeff, too, is a cradle Catholic. He left the Church for some years, then returned. He’s the one who coined the word “revert.”
OK, I give up trying to make it sound like I knew what I was talking about.
There are countless other names that can be substituted, though, that would be correct.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Prodigal Daughter
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 196 |
| First Name: | Deborah/PD | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptized Catholic, received First Communion, left during Confirmation year. ... |
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Posted: Mon Mar 19th, 2007 09:31 am |
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Darelene,
I just read your post to Russ while drinking our morning coffee. His comment was.
"Welcome to our world!"
PD
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"Man should tremble, the world should vibrate, all Heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest."
St. Francis of Assisi
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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 877 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 05:14 pm |
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I just read this post, PD. I've been a bit behind this week, just started a new job and some other responsibilities have kept me from coming on the CH forum. So I'm catching up on the reading today.
Say "Hello" to your hubby for me.
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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